Job Discussion Forums

[steki47]

[1983rm]

When I first got here I was in a cheap apartment , 80000yen a month but split with the girlfriend. I actually put away quite a lot of money but we couldn't have carried on living in a box room. Most of what I had went on moving and about 6 months on I'm just starting to get back to saving some.

Now I'm estimating saving 50,000 a month, on 250,000 wage. If I'm very good I reckon I could boost it up but you have to eat out and go drinking sometimes.

[TokyoLiz]

Are you grossing 250,000 yen, or is that what you take home?

I think it is possible, even with a savings plan and/or loan repayment plan, to save if you live in the suburbs. Rental values are quite low in some places close to Tokyo. If you are willing to share a house or apartment, the initial start up is low (deposit but no key money) and the rents can be well under 50,000/month.

I am in a different salary range, so I have a few budgets - savings plan, travel fund, and education fund. I save enough to cover holiday travel, pour money into a retirement investment, and cover the costs associated with an expensive hobby (martial arts training).

My friends and my guests say the budget killers, after fixed costs, are transportation and food. The remedy for controlling transportation costs is to find an apartment that is a straight shot to friends' hangouts, shopping, your hobbies, and your work so that your monthly train pass covers as much as your travel as possible.

Food, glorious food. Make your own bento if you do not get lunch at your work site, and cook at home. Don't know how to cook? Learn new things in your new country. The Internet is your friend.

[teacheratlarge]

The transportation costs can add up if you're often meeting friends who live outside your immediate area (like especially in other Prefectures).

I also am in a different salary range, and my wife and I tend to eat out too often (I say this ruefully as I wish we could save more sometimes), some 2-3x a week on average. We also like to go upscale sometimes, so more expensive restaurants maybe once every month or 2 months. My wife working farther away now has added to the number of nights out as well as cut into her time to do much else.

We also take regular trips abroad (2-3x a year) as well as travel in Japan (also 2-3x a year).

We do like to save, but we're not ready to begin taking local trains long distance or airporting on trips abroad (hotel please !).

I don't drink happoshu or shochu, but I do drink at home or outside sometimes to save money compared to drinking at a bar.

[teacheratlarge]

Oh, I do know people who also don't have Internet service at home, but then they usually either have a smartphone or sometimes a mobile plan and use a tablet (though I do know a few people who use computers at home for any online stuff or use a friend's PC or Internet cafe).

Also some people forgo having cable TV at home and watch everything on their PC downloaded or accessed through Hulu or something similar. I do stream some programs (have had bad experiences downloading ) that are not shown on Japanese cable or the programs are a few seasons behind.